Malcom is the man at Santee Cooper

Georgia co-angler takes Stren Series win

MANNING, S.C. – Fishing in his first Stren Series, Shawn Malcom of Monroe, Ga., won the Co-angler Division of the Santee Cooper event with a three-day total of 34 pounds, 13 ounces to take home a new Ranger boat and $5,000.

And the ironic part is Malcom had the tournament won even before day three started. Since he had nearly an 8-pound lead with 29-12 going into the final day, no other co-anglers challenged that lead Saturday.

Of course, he did not know that all day while he fished his heart out, feeling it break every time he lost a fish.

“I wish I knew I had it won,” Malcom laughed. “I probably took several years off my life out there, worried sick every time I lost a fish.”

Malcom did end up boating three keepers on the day for 5 pounds, 1 ounce to put an exclamation point on his win.

During the week Malcom fished nothing but a Senko in red bug and June bug colors. The Senko was rigged weightless with a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook and tied to 10-pound-test Trilene fluorocarbon line spooled on a spinning outfit.

“That Trilene is the best line in the world, hands down,” Malcom said. “I was targeting lily pads all week, fishing the Senko real slow. And when I’d get a fish on, I could horse him through those pads without a problem thanks to Trilene.”

In addition to this being the first Stren Series tournament he has ever fished, this was also the first time Malcom had ever fished for bass on Santee Cooper lakes.

“My dad has a place over here, and all we have ever done is catfish here,” he said. “This is the first time I have ever bass fished on this lake – and I think I’ll do some more of it from now on.”

Miller second

Donald Miller of High Point, N.C., had the heaviest catch in the Co-angler Division on day three, weighing in four bass for 7-9. That moved Miller into the runner-up spot with a three-day total of 24-15 giving him $3,504 in winnings.

Miller is recovering from mouth surgery and was not able to speak much with his pros during the week. But that did not stop him from casting Zoom Z-nails, flukes and lizards out of the back of the boat to catch his fish.

Bladow third

Jamie Bladow of Houston, Ala., finished third with a three-day total of 24-8 for $2,628 in winnings.

On day one Bladow caught his fish on a Skinny Dipper and then switched to a Zoom Horny Toad on day two.

“Anyone who wants to learn how to bass fish ought to enter these Stren Series as a co-angler,” Bladow said of the tournament. “These pros will definitely put you through school.”

Breckenridge, Buck round out top five

Larry Breckenridge of Dothan, Ala., finished fourth with a three-day total of 22-3 worth $2,190.

Ron Buck of Port St. Lucie, Fla., finished fifth with a three-day total of 19 pounds worth $1,971.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers in the Stren Series Southeast event on Santee Cooper:

6th: Luke Campbell of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., three-day total of 19-0, $1,752

7th: Cleve Morris of Manning, S.C., three-day total of 18-1, $1,533

8th: David Olinger of Pikeville, Tenn., three-day total of 17-9, $1,314

9th: Walter Cumbee of Moncks Corner, S.C., three-day total of 15-13, $1,095

10th: Bernie Bailey of Chesapeake, Va., three-day total of 14-5, $876